Numerical Simulation of the Thermal Destruction of Some Chlorinated C1 and C2 Hydrocarbons

We have numerically modeled the breakdown of small quantities of several chlorinated hydrocarbons (CH₃CI, CH₂CI₂, CHCI₃, CCI₄, C₂H₃CI, and C₂H₅CI) in a lean mixture of combustion products between 800 and 1480 K. This simulates the fate of poorly atomized waste in a liquid-Injection Incinerator. Kinetics calculations were performed using the CHEMKIN and SENKIN programs, with a reaction mechanism that was developed at Louisiana State University to model flat-flame burner experiments.

A 99.99-percent destruction efficiency was attained In one second at temperatures ranging from 1280 to 960 K, with CCI4 requiring the highest temperature for destruction and C₂H₅CI the lowest. For all compounds except C₂H₅CI, there was a range of temperatures at which byproducts accounted for several percent of the elemental chlorine at the outlet. The more heavily chlorinated compounds formed more byproducts even though the amount of elemental chlorine was the same in all cases. The sensitivity of results to residence time, equivalence ratio, temperature profile, and the presence of additional chlorine, was examined for the case of CHCI₃.     

Hydrocarbon Measurements During the 1992 Southern Oxidants Study Atlanta Intensive: Protocol and Quality Assurance

Abstract

A major component of the Southern Oxidants Study (SOS) 1992 Atlanta Intensive was the measurement of atmospheric nonmethane hydrocarbons. Ambient air samples were collected and analyzed by a network of strategically located automated gas chromatography (GC) systems (field systems). In addition, an extensive canister sampling network was deployed. Combined, more than 3000 chromatograms were recorded. The SOS science team targeted for quantitative analysis 56 compounds which may be substantial contributors to ozone formation or used as air mass tracers. A quality assurance program was instituted to ensure that good measurements were being made throughout the network for each target compound. Common, high-quality standards were used throughout the network. The performance of individual field systems was evaluated during the intensive through the analysis of challenge mixtures. This methodology helped to identify and correct analytical problems as they arose.     

Economic Benefits of Improvements in Visibility: Acid Rain Provisions of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments

The Acid Rain Provisions (Title IV) of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 call for about a 10 million ton reduction in annual SO₂ emissions in the United States. Although the provisions apply nationwide, most of the reduction will occur in the eastern half of the country, where use of high-sulfur coal for electricity generation is most common. One potentially large benefit of Title IV is the expected improvement in visibility conditions in the eastern United States due to the reductions in secondary sul-fate aerosols. This paper combines available economic estimates of willingness to pay for improvements in visibility with current estimates of the difference between expected visibility conditions in the eastern United States with and without Title I V, to estimate the expected visibility benefits of Title IV. The results suggest an annual value of $2.3 billion (in 1994 dollars) in the year 2010, as a result of visibility improvements due to Title IV in residential areas of the eastern United States. The results also suggest a possible additional annual value for eastern U.S. residents of as much as $1-2 billion for visibility improvements at national parks in the Southeast.     

Application of a Three-Layer Photochemical Box Model in an Athens Street Canyon

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to show that a photochemical box model could describe the air pollution diurnal profiles within a typical street canyon in the city of Athens. As sophisticated three-dimensional dispersion models are computationally expensive and they cannot serve to simulate pollution levels in the scale of an urban street canyon, a suitably modified three-layer photochemical box model was applied. A street canyon of Athens with heavy traffic was chosen to apply the aforementioned model. The model was used to calculate pollutant concentrations during two days with meteorological conditions favoring pollutant accumulation. Road traffic emissions were calculated based on existing traffic load measurements. Meteorological data, as well as various pollutant concentrations, in order to compare with the model results, were provided by available measurements. The calculated concentrations were found to be in good agreement with measured concentration levels and show that, when traffic load and traffic composition data are available, this model can be used to predict pollution episodes. It is noteworthy that high concentrations persisted, even after additional traffic restriction measures were taken on the second day because of the high pollution levels.     

Estimating Maximum Concentrations for Open Path Monitoring Along a Fixed Beam Path

ABSTRACT

Researchers have applied open path optical sensing techniques to a variety of workplace and environmental monitoring problems. Usually these data are reported in terms of a path-average (or path-integrated) concentration. When assessing potential human exposures along a beam path, this path-average value is not always informative, since concentrations along the path can vary substantially from the beam average. The focus of this research is to arrive at a method for estimating the upper-bound in contaminant concentrations over a fixed open beam path. The approach taken here uses a statistical model to estimate an upper-bound concentration based on a combination of the path-average and a measure of the spatial variability computed from point samples along the beam path. Results of computer simulations and experimental testing in a controlled ventilation chamber indicate that the model produced conservative estimates for the maximum concentration along the beam path. This approach may have many applications for open path monitoring in workplaces or wherever maximum concentrations are a concern.     

Innovative Approach for Estimating Fugitive Gaseous Fluxes Using Computed Tomography and Remote Optical Sensing Techniques

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a new approach to quantify emissions from fugitive gaseous air pollution sources. The authors combine Computed Tomography (CT) with Path-Integrated Optical Remote Sensing (PI-ORS) concentration data in a new field beam geometry. Path-integrated concentrations are sampled in a vertical plane downwind from the source along several radial beam paths. An innovative CT technique, which applies the Smooth Basis Function Minimization method to the beam data in conjunction with measured wind data, is used to estimate the total flux from the fugitive source. The authors conducted a synthetic data study to evaluate the proposed methodology under different meteorological conditions, beam geometry configurations, and simulated measurement errors. The measurement errors were simulated based on data collected with an Open-Path Fourier Transform Infra-Red system. This approach was found to be robust for the simulated errors and for a wide range of fluctuating wind directions. In the very sparse beam geometry examined (eight beam paths), successful emission rates were retrieved over a 70° range of wind directions under extremely large measurement error conditions.     

Patterns and Concentrations of PM10 in a Mountainous Basin Region

ABSTRACT

In this study, continuous data of PM₁₀ (particles with aerodynamic diameter <10 u,m) concentration measurements for a 4-yr period were analyzed. These measurements have been carried out in the Eordea Basin, an industrial area in the northwestern mountainous region of Greece. The annual, monthly, and diurnal patterns are presented and investigated regarding the prevailing meteorological conditions and atmospheric processes that affect the ambient concentrations of PM₁₀. The effect of wind on controlling PM₁₀ concentration is also discussed. Based on the data analysis, an attempt is made to provide useful information about air quality levels, taking into account U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards.     

Black Carbon Aerosol at McMurdo Station,Antarctica

ABSTRACT

Aerosol light absorption as black carbon (BC) was measured from November 19, 1995, to February 6, 1996, at a location 0.65 km downwind of the center of McMurdo Station on the Antarctic coast. The results show a bimo-dal frequency distribution of BC concentrations. Approximately 65% of the measurements were found in a mode at a low range of concentrations centered at ~20 ng/m³. These concentrations are higher than those found at other remote Antarctic locations and probably represent contamination from the station. The remaining measurements were in a high-concentration mode (BC ~300 ng/m³), indicating direct impact of local emissions from combustion activities at the station. High values of BC were associated with winds from the direction of the station, and the BC flux showed a clear directionality. Maximum BC concentrations occurred between 7:00 and 11:00 a.m. The "polluted" mode accounted for more than 80% of the BC frequency-weighted impact at this location.